Student Finance Eligibility — quick check and step‑by‑step guide
Use this page to quickly see what support you may qualify for (Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan, and extra help) and follow the exact steps to apply. This is a simplified guide based on official rules for students whose home is in England.
Quick Eligibility Check
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Who can get undergraduate student finance?
You could get a Tuition Fee Loan, a Maintenance Loan for living costs, and in some cases extra grants or allowances (for example, if you have a disability, dependants, or a low household income). What you can get depends on your university/college, your course, whether you’ve studied before, your age, and your nationality/residency.
Your university or college
Your provider must be a university, college or institution offering a qualifying course in the UK.
Your course
If you study full‑time, eligible courses include: first degrees (BA/BSc/BEd), foundation degrees, CertHE, DipHE, HNC/HND, Initial Teacher Training, integrated Master’s, pre‑registration postgraduate healthcare, and approved Level 4–5 HTQs.
If you study part‑time, your course intensity must be 25%+. Tuition Fee Loans are available for similar course types; Maintenance Loans are available for specific part‑time routes (e.g., degree‑level ITT, integrated Master’s, certain dental/ODP and approved HTQs).
Not eligible: degree apprenticeships (funded differently).
If you’ve studied before
Student finance usually covers your first higher‑education qualification. If you’ve studied before, you may still get limited help — especially if you changed course, withdrew/suspended, or are repeating a year for compelling personal reasons (provide evidence when you apply).
How Tuition Fee Loan years are counted: take the length of your new course, add one year, then subtract any years of previous study (count part‑years as a full year). Maintenance Loans are usually available each year you study.
New 3‑year course, 2 years previously studied ⇒ Year 1: Maintenance only; Years 2–3: Tuition Fee + Maintenance.
Completed 3‑year course without a qualification ⇒ New 3‑year course: Years 1–2 Maintenance only; Year 3 Tuition Fee + Maintenance.
You may get limited funding to ‘top up’ (e.g., after HNC/HND/foundation degree) to an Honours degree. Some second degrees are also funded in specific subjects (e.g., medicine/allied health, architecture Part 2, veterinary, and other listed STEM areas).
Your age
No upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans or grants. If you’re 60 or over on the first day of the academic year and studying full‑time on or after 1 August 2016, you may get a limited Maintenance Loan (income‑assessed).
Your nationality or residency
Depending on your residency status, you may be eligible for full support (Tuition Fee + Maintenance Loan) or for Tuition Fee‑only funding.
- UK nationals, Irish citizens, or those with settled status whose home is in England and who have lived in the UK/Channel Islands/Isle of Man for the 3 years before the course (temporary absences allowed) usually qualify for full support.
- Other nationalities/statuses — check detailed rules to see what you can apply for.
Get undergraduate student finance: the 9‑step process
Check you’re eligible
If you’re from England or outside the UK, use this page. Different processes apply for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
Estimate how much you could get
You may be able to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan. Maintenance amounts depend on location and household income. Universities may also offer bursaries and scholarships.
Check if you qualify for extra help
You may get extra money if you have children, pay childcare, support an adult dependant, or have a disability/long‑term health condition/learning difficulty.
Prepare your application
Gather your identity/residency documents, course details, and household income information if you’re applying for income‑assessed support.
Apply or re‑apply
New and continuing students should apply online as early as possible. You can usually apply before you have a confirmed offer.
Update details if circumstances change
Report changes such as course, university, repeat years, suspension, or household income updates.
Make sure you can be paid
Register on your course, complete any requested evidence checks, and confirm your bank details.
While you’re studying
Keep your details up to date, track your payments, and contact your provider or SFE if anything changes.
Repay your loan
Repay based on your income after you leave your course. Check when repayments start and how much you’ll repay under your plan type.
Common questions
Can part‑time students get a Maintenance Loan?
Maintenance Loans are available for certain part‑time routes, including degree‑level ITT, integrated Master’s, some dental/ODP, and approved HTQs. Your course intensity must be 25% or higher.
What if I withdrew, suspended, or changed course?
You may still receive funding — including repeat‑year support — particularly for compelling personal reasons (provide evidence). Tuition Fee Loan entitlement follows the “length of course + 1 – previous study” rule.
Do degree apprenticeships get student finance?
No. Degree apprenticeships are funded differently and are not eligible for standard undergraduate student finance.
This page summarises public sector information. Content adapted under the Open Government Licence v3.0.